Jeremiah 30:17; For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord. (NKJV)

I look at my desk and see chips in the veneer; and yes, you are right – that tells you it is not solid wood. It fitted my needs when I bought it.

I do have a remedy for the damage; a small bottle of stain. It came with the purchase. I can readily disguise the small areas of damage, making the desk surface look new again.

Christians can become flawed too, but these misdemeanors (or sins) can be obvious. The Bible has specific instructions on what is proper behavior for God’s people. Repair (or forgiveness) in these instances has to come from God. His mercy and grace can repair any spiritual imperfections.

Just as I return the desktop to its former beauty; God can do the same for us.

Jesus was crucified. He was buried. He rose again on the third day, as was prophesied. He was alive and well, after the horrors of flogging, rejection and crucifixion.

It would be easy to doubt His resurrection. It is not usual for anyone to come back from death. Yet, Jesus did. It is not only written about; there are also eye-witness accounts.

He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve (Apostles). After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me (Paul) also …. (1 Corinthians 15:6-7)

So, who are we to doubt? Faith is believing in someone greater than ourselves. It is to believe the promises written about in the Bible. God – promises us that the Bible contains the absolute truth on how to behave, how to trust and how to live.

When there is nothing in your life worth a cent, putting your trust in God and in His written (God-breathed) words, can often be the difference between a life worth living and one of unspeakable heartbreak.

Jesus lived for us. He died for us. He lives for, and waits, for us to follow Him.

Choose life!

Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (NKJV)

Sitting quietly in prayer, I ask – ‘Lord, help me to be the best that I can be for You today’.

I then busy myself, checking email messages. As I do this a box pops up on the screen. “What is this?” I wonder. “I didn’t hit any keys”, but as I look I realize it says, ‘Request Wisdom to Know’. “Excuse me”? “What is that?”

Curious, I open the box and then see that it was an old message; one where I had sent a request for a particular book, in order to write a review.

Silly me! Sometimes, attention can be captured unexpectedly and at very opportune moments. In this instance, I felt it could very well have been God letting me know, He had received my prayer and He responded in a way that certainly got my attention.

A God moment! I love when that happens. There is no explanation as to why this message suddenly appeared – I only know that the wording hit home in a profoundly reassuring way.

It’s a cold, cold day, here today. Snow squalls are continually driving a path through the area, and brutally cold temperatures are the order of the day. Unforgiving weather, is what I call it. Exposure to these elements for too, long, would mean you would be dealing with frostbite, as well as certain death, if exposed for too long.

The world is filled with deadly conditions too. Abortion. Rape. Abuse. Deception. Theft. Prostitution. Human trafficking. Child labor. The list can almost be endless.

Billy Graham, aged 93, and still a man of God, with Godly values, prays for our human frailties and I print his prayer here, for all who would like to pray it for themselves and our earthly world and governments.

Billy Graham’s Prayer

THIS MAN SURE HAS A GOOD VIEW OF WHAT’S HAPPENING NOT ONLY TO THE U.S. BUT ALSO TO OUR WORLD!

‘Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable… We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and Set us free. Amen!’

`I am a Christian! I am set apart from non-believers. I am NOT better than, I just have different beliefs!

Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust the Lord than to trust people. ICV)

Life and some people I have met, have taught me it is better to trust in God, than any mortal being.

I do not abuse, nor use or appreciate profane language!
I do not kill, maim or torture, nor do I steal!
I do my best to not worship man-made idols, although in this technological world I do admit to being dependent on certain items!
I respect people, and attempt to live for truth, in truth and for truth!
I love those who choose to not like or love me in return. I acknowledge they are doing the best that they can, with what they know, or perhaps – they just do not find anything about me they are comfortable with.

I believe in the one true God! In Jesus Christ as His Son, who died and rose from death to prove His love for me and He lives eternally.

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son. God gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost (caught up in worldly pursuits to alleviate their inner needs), but have eternal life. God did not send His Son to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him. (ICV)

Choosing God was life-changing for me. Years ago, I had desperate need of something but did not know what it was. I had a huge emptiness inside that nothing satisfied. My life was not good! I had trusted people who were unworthy of my trust, and I was led astray. God stepped in and put me on a better path. He saved me. He will do the same for you, but you need to let Him know that you want Him to!

Matthew 7:7a Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. (ICV)

Prayer: God – are you really there? I need help and I think you are the only one who can do it. I am struggling: alone and caught up in a lifestyle that I have no control over. Please help me! Show me what the right next step should be. Come in to my life and save me and show me a better way to live. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Like this:

As many of you know, I recently submitted two photographs into a contest. Prizes include photographic equipment.

I’ve been kinda bugging folk to vote, although, I prefer to think of it as reminders!

Obviously, apart from the excitement of watching votes grow in number, I anticipate the possibility of winning a prize! No guarantee on that I realize!

On the other hand, there is a much greater prize to be won and it is guaranteed if you follow the rules.

Philippians 3:12 I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that. That is the reason Christ made me His. Brothers, I know that I have not yet reached that goal. But there is one thing I always do: I forget the things that are past. I try as hard as I can to reach the goal that is before me. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize. That prize is mine because God called me through Christ to the life above. (NCV) – International Children’s Bible

The prize? Eternal life! A life far better than anything we can experience here on earth. It is a prize awarded to you when you truly believe God has a Son named Jesus Christ. That He died for you. Rose from the dead, for you. He wants you to trust in Him and follow the guidance, that only the Bible gives! The truth!

Prayer: Father, we struggle in life here on earth, but know if we hang on to the truths found in the Bible, and accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we are assured a life beyond our imaginings. Thankyou, for a hope that never dies. Amen.

Sitting and gazing out to the garden, my attention is suddenly grabbed by a hawk landing on the lawn. It has a fresh catch in its talons.

What an unbelievable sight. I’m used to seeing these beautiful birds soaring high above, while searching for prey below.

It rests a few seconds while the poor captive bird struggles to free itself. Alas, it will not win. With determination, the hawk tightens the grip on the little bird and takes off; feathers flying in all directions. It is no doubt intent on feeding its young – but I do feel for the helpless meal!

Aren’t you glad you’re not on the menu?

Watch out that satan doesn’t have you in his sights! Be careful how you’re living; he may be coming to get you next! He stalks each of us, determined to feed his ever hungry lusts: not caring how or who, or why. He just wants one more; then one more; then one more, ad infinitum! As long as there are willing lost souls, he cannot lose.

Jeremiah 25:7 – “Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the Lord, “that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.” (NKJV)

I was trying very hard to concentrate on reading my Bible passages for the day. But there was an equally determined black squirrel in the garden. It was racing up and down the trees, loudly admonishing and protesting some unseen adversary. Despite my telling it to be quiet and loudly shushing it, it continued with its noisy protesting, oblivious to scolding from me. All very frustrating.

My protestations fell upon deaf ears! I am fairly certain that, many times, we behave in much the same way when God is attempting to get our attention — all those times when we are crazily running around, doing what we feel needs to be done; when we’re voicing opinions where none are really wanted or needed. I can almost hear God trying to shush us and have us listen to Him, instead of wearing ourselves out with what we perceive as necessary busyness and activity, which, to all intents and purposes, achieves nothing of particular value. Sadly, His calls often fall upon our deaf ears, too.

Exodus 18:19a – Listen now to My voice; I will give you counsel. (NKJV)

Now that I’ve completed my writing I’m thinking that this distraction was meant to get my attention — because the noise has stopped, and the squirrel has vanished!

Okay, Lord, I heard You!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the many times when You attempt to get our attention. Thank You for persevering, even though we can often suffer from selective hearing and continue doing what we think is most important, when really and truly, You are. Amen.

Anyway! the word can sound like a negative response, or justification for a wrong action or spoken word.

I (try my best to) live by the biblical laws of the Lord’s Ten Commandments, and some time ago, I’d had some unexpected challenges and I had been questioning myself. How could I react in a positive manner?The truth was, I was angry and in need of much grace within myself; nevertheless, I wanted to overcome that negativity. Checking my emails, I found a friend had sent me a link to Dr. Kent Keith’s, ‘Paradoxical Commandments’ and his presentation helped me to put things into perspective -perhaps, they’ll help you today in someway too – so with permission granted me by Dr. Kent Keith, here they are for you – remember to always try to Do Your Best, in all you do.

THE PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS

By Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith as part of his book, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council, published in 1968 by Harvard Student Agencies, Cambridge, Massachusetts. More information is available at http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/.

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions
Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the
use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit
without correction voids any manufacturer warranties,
exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous
to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently
impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this
recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The
SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to
prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!

– GOD

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this
important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any
time by ‘Knee mail’!